Monday, November 02, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.
(AP) -- The Iowa Hawkeyes have dropped a spot to Number 8 in the latest Associated Press college football poll. Top-ranked Florida kept its place, followed by Texas and Alabama, which slipped to Number 3 during an off week. Cincinnati and Boise State round out the top five.
It may sound cheesy, but some Iowa football followers have started comparing the Hawkeyes to Rocky Balboa in an effort to explain the unexplainable. Iowa usually enters the fourth quarter needing a knockout, and so far the team has delivered the winning punch every time in its 9-0 start. That includes a 42-24 win in Saturday's game against Indiana. Next up is Northwestern.
Iowa's penchant for waiting until the end to finish teams off might cost them, even if the Hawkeyes win out to finish the season undefeated. They'll likely need Florida, Alabama or Texas lose for them to earn a spot in the BCS title game. Coach Kirk Ferentz says his players have to focus on what they can control -- the current game, and not the rankings.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
